Shingle with a rendered shadow design

Abstract

A laminated shingle has a rendered shadow design when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlap portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more tabs separated by cutouts. The underlay member is coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form vertically and horizontally-oriented shading areas. In one embodiment, one or both vertical edges of each tab are generally parallel to the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the vertically-oriented shading area to expose a portion of the shading area. In another embodiment, the width of each tab is randomly selected and the width of the vertically-oriented shading area is a function of the width of the adjacent tab. In yet another embodiment, the intensity of the shading areas can increase from the bottom to the top of each cutout. The overlay member can also include a layer of relatively dark granules randomly applied to the upper and lower edges of the tabs. In still yet another embodiment, the tabs and cutouts of the overlay member have non-parallel vertical edges. A laminated shingle with a rendered shadow design can be formed using any combination of the above-disclosed embodiments.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A laminated shingle, comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including one or more tabs separated by cutouts, each cutout including a pair of spaced apart vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the lower portion of the overlay member, each cutout also including an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form at least one vertically-oriented, generally elongated shading area having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the underlay member, the vertically-oriented shading area being darker in appearance than a remainder of the underlay member,  
       wherein the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member is generally collinear with at least one of the pair of edges of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing, within a cutout, a portion of the vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member.  
     
     
       2. The laminated shingle according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlay member further includes at least one horizontally-oriented shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area. 
     
     
       3. The laminated shingle according to  claim 1 , wherein an intensity of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member increases from the lower edge of the overlay member to the lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member. 
     
     
       4. The laminated shingle according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area is a function of a width of an adjacent tab. 
     
     
       5. A laminated shingle, comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including one or more tabs separated by cutouts, each cutout including a pair of spaced apart vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the lower portion of the overlay member, each cutout also including an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form at least one vertically-oriented shading area having two substantially vertical edges, being substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the underlay member, the shading area being darker in appearance than a remainder of the underlay member,  
       wherein one of the cutout vertical edges is arranged so that it is positioned between the vertical edges of the shading area of the underlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member.  
     
     
       6. The laminated shingle according to  claim 5 , wherein the underlay member further includes at least one horizontally-oriented shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area. 
     
     
       7. A laminated shingle, comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including tabs separated by cutouts, each tab having a centerline substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the overlay member, at least one tab being a relatively wide tab and at least one tab being a relatively narrow tab so that the tabs vary in width, and at least one cutout including a pair of vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the overlay member and an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form vertically-oriented, generally elongated shading areas having vertically oriented longitudinal axes being substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the underlay member,  
       wherein the centerline of each tab of the overlay member substantially aligns with a vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the shading areas of the underlay member to expose a portion of each of the shading areas of the underlay member, and wherein the widths of the exposed portions of the vertically-oriented shading areas are a function of the widths of an adjacent tab.  
     
     
       8. The laminated shingle according to  claim 7 , wherein the underlay member further includes a horizontal shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the horizontal shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of the at least cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the horizontal shading area. 
     
     
       9. The laminated shingle according to  claim 8 , wherein an intensity of either the vertically-oriented shading areas, or the horizontal shading area, or both, increases from the lower edge of the overlay member to the lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member. 
     
     
       10. A laminated shingle, comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a series of tabs separated by cutouts, each cutout including a pair of spaced apart vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the lower portion of the overlay member, each cutout also including an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form a series of vertically-oriented shading areas being darker in appearance than the remainder areas of the underlay member, each of the shading areas having a shading area edge separating the darker shading area from an adjacent, lighter remainder area of the shingle,  
       wherein the shading area edges are arranged so that they are positioned between the vertical edges of the cutouts, thereby exposing portions of the shading areas of the underlay member.  
     
     
       11. The laminated shingle according to  claim 10 , wherein the underlay member further includes at least one horizontally-oriented shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area. 
     
     
       12. The laminated shingle according to  claim 10 , wherein an intensity of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member increases from the lower edge of the overlay member to the lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member. 
     
     
       13. A roof covering including a plurality of successive generally horizontal courses of laminated shingles, the shingles in each course being laid in a side-by-side relationship and horizontally offset from the shingles in adjacent courses, each laminated shingle comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including one or more tabs separated by cutouts, each cutout including a pair of spaced apart vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the lower portion of the overlay member, each cutout also including an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form at least one vertically-oriented shading area having two substantially vertical edges, being substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the underlay member, the shading area being darker in appearance than a remainder of the underlay member,  
       wherein one of the cutout vertical edges is arranged so that it is positioned between the vertical edges of the shading area of the underlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member.  
     
     
       14. The roof covering according to  claim 13 , wherein the underlay member further includes at least one horizontally-oriented shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area. 
     
     
       15. The roof covering according to  claim 13 , wherein an intensity of the at least one shading area of the underlay member increases from the lower edge of the overlay member to the lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member. 
     
     
       16. The roof covering according to  claim 13 , wherein a width of the at least one shading area is a function of a width of an adjacent tab. 
     
     
       17. A roof covering including a plurality of successive generally horizontal courses of laminated shingles, the shingles in each course being laid in a side-by-side relationship and horizontally offset from the shingles in adjacent courses, each laminated shingle comprising: 
       an overlay member having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including one or more tabs separated by cutouts, each cutout including a pair of spaced apart vertical edges extending from a lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member to a lower edge of the lower portion of the overlay member, each cutout also including an upper edge extending between the pair of vertical edges, and  
       an underlay member having a front surface attached to the rear surface of the overlay member, the underlay member including a layer of granules on the front surface to form at least one vertically-oriented, generally elongated shading area having a vertically-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the underlay member, the vertically-oriented shading area being darker in appearance than a remainder of the underlay member,  
       wherein the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member is generally collinear with at least one of the pair of edges of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing, within a cutout, a portion of the vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member.  
     
     
       18. The roof covering according to  claim 17 , wherein the underlay member further includes at least one horizontally-oriented shading area having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the underlay member, and wherein the horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area of the underlay member substantially aligns with the upper edge of at least one cutout of the overlay member, thereby exposing a portion of the at least one horizontally-oriented shading area. 
     
     
       19. The roof covering according to  claim 17 , wherein an intensity of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area of the underlay member increases from the lower edge of the overlay member to the lower boundary of the upper portion of the overlay member. 
     
     
       20. The roof covering according to  claim 17 , wherein a width of the at least one vertically-oriented shading area is a function of a width of an adjacent tab.